Reflection Assignment Questions
- After watching the film 'Paranorman", you will be creating a detailed reflection that showcases your personal analysis of the StopMotion film.
- Thank you to Maheshinder (Mayshee) Singh for his wonderful work in designing this reflection assignment.
For these questions, you are to take a look at the topics/general questions and really understand and think critically about how they influenced the movie. Try to answer as much as you can in as much detail as you can. Try to think by yourself for a bit before you search up answers to certain questions. Keep in mind all of the stuff you learn because it will come in useful when you are creating your own stop-motion movies. Remember to relate all your answers to stop-motion.
If you have any questions, feel free to ask me to clarify or help you. Remember to get as detailed an answer for each topic. If you can't find the answers to certain question or need an example I will be happy to help.
If you have any questions, feel free to ask me to clarify or help you. Remember to get as detailed an answer for each topic. If you can't find the answers to certain question or need an example I will be happy to help.
1. Summary:
2. The Characters: How did your favourite character move? How did things like their walking, and their facial animations show their emotion or their thought process? How do you think Laika achieved that level of fluidity? How did the animation of each character show off their personality, and how did they fit into the story (i.e. stock, dynamic, or foil character)? How did their designs show off their personality (i.e. skinny nerd, buff jock, etc.)? What could you fix about the characters? 3. The Set: What role does the set play in this movie and how does the set interact with the protagonist? How does the set affect the story and drive the main characters to do what they do? Is the set more than just a setting? If it is, why do you think Laika did that? What was your favourite scene, and how did the set involve itself and add to the mood, the danger, the story, etc. 4. The Lighting: How did the lighting affect the tone of the scene. Did certain scenarios of lighting symbolize anything (i.e. red/dark for danger, white/light for hope, etc.)? Why was green featured in all the promotional material for the movie? What was the lighting of your favourite scene and how did it affect your mood? How do you think Laika accomplished lighting the insides of the house? 5. The Camera: How did the camera move in different shots and scenes (dialogue scenes, establishing shots, etc.)? How did the editing of scenes effect the mood and emotion that the audience feels (i.e. cuts getting faster during action, etc.)? Think about your favourite scene - how was it framed? How do you think Laika positioned and moved the camera to film certain shots. 6. The Story Why do you think Laika chose to do this story as a stop-motion instead of live action or animated? Do you think the pacing was good for the story? Do you think it would have been better as any other style of film? If so, then why? 7. Negatives What negatives did you see in this movie; how can you make them positives? What do you think could have made this movie better or a more enjoyable experience. Do you think this movie could have benefited from a different art style? Think about the design, the narrative, the set, and other sources that you think could be improved. |
Further Studies:
- Do some research into the animation studio behind the movie
- Complete a detailed character analysis of at least two of the characters from the movie. Include pictures, name, characteristics, and role in the movie.