Postmodern Animation A Survey on Outdoor Animations

Abstract
Postmodern Animation is the result of the unification of previously overlooked art forms, Experimental
Animation and Land Art, leading to the emergence of a new kinetic art form. This type of animation is now
considered as one of the most prospering art movements, not only in avant-garde circles but also in the most
leading artistic curriculums. Generally, Postmodernism in Animation shows itself in a fully hybrid form
which is a combination of artistic styles, experimental methods and self-explored techniques. Although
this could be a combination of traditional and modern methods, yet postmodern animation is considered to
be the offspring of early Experimental Animations. Experimental Animation itself is the result of personal
techniques, commitment, and artistic daring. Today, there are hundreds of independent artist-animators
all over the world who are working in various graphic techniques, in direct animation and collage, in
computer and video technologies. What they all have in common, and what distinguishes them from their
colleagues in entertainment and advertising, is that they work on their own, seeking their own enthusiasm
for the medium itself and their desire to develop some technical or artistic aspect of it. In this regard, Fine
Art Animation is the new name of an art that began early in this century, when modern artists were eyeing
the motion picture as the medium that could add movement to their paintings and graphic designs. Fine
Art Animation is the ideal medium through which artists explore the dimensions of the inner world, and
examine the possibilities of pure, kinetic, graphic elements. Inspired by this idea of experimentation, the
Postmodern animator leaves the confining traditional studios behind and tries to explore and establish his
or her own rules by producing free-style fully experimented animations in the abandoned lands, deserts,
and suburbs or on the sand beaches. Postmodern animators are like land art artists who consider the motion
picture as the medium which could add movement to their installations. Just like land art artists, post
modern animator is determined to heighten public awareness of human’s relationship with the natural
world by intervening in the landscape. Movement, change, growth and decay are inherent features of
nature flows through these artworks. In this regard, musical qualities are influential in both structural and
conceptual formation of this type of animation. Outdoor Animation is the enthusiasm for experiment &
exploration. Materials of this style of animation are everything: rocks, branches, leaves, sand, and natural
forces such as wind, rain and snow; or even consecutive graffiti drawings on walls. By means of Stopmotion
photography, artists can create a delightful form of Motion Painting. This technique creates the
illusion of movement by physically manipulating real-world objects and photographing them one frame of
film at a time. This research aims to define Postmodern Animation as a new emerging art form, and to show
how its strong roots laid within the history of Experimental Animation and Land Art through the analysis
of its features and elements via presenting different recently produced outdoor animations