Hello~
I have been very infrequent with this blog so now it is closed! I won't delete it though, it will sit forever so I can look back at it haha.
If you are curious about what I'm up to in 2016 look for the 2GallowaySisters Sleepy Gallows Studio! (long title that we simply call the Sleepy Gallows) It's my sister and my art. At the moment it's very much about our Esty Shop, but we'll have a web series called 'For Peace, Love and Harmony' going very soon in 2016 on this YouTube.
We are also on Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr and G+.
The Void of My Mind
This blog will have my tests and experiments as I stumble my way through different art techniques and animation programs. Come grow with me!
Sunday, December 27, 2015
Monday, August 10, 2015
Disney Women Do Sorta All Look the Same, But So Do the Men
I don't usually write article-esque posts, but there is a lot of content out there complaining about Disney. Now, I'm going to tell it straight. I'm a Disney fan. Do I think all Disney movies are perfect? No. I do I like all Disney movies? The animated ones, especially classic Disney, yes. But I also critic them, think about weak spots in the plot, and wonder was it really the best story solution, or just the best they could do with the schedule and budget. I also think Disney needs to work representing more races and genders. Now that that's out of the way, I (and my sister Crystal) am going to break down why popular arguments against Disney's representation of women are wrong.
The Women aren't so Similar
As an animator, the similarities in female characters u see is because they are all princesses and/or pretty. Most of the articles I've read ( Here are two)compare the princesses to random male protagonists who aren't associated with good looks. If you look at Disney females who aren't supposed to fit mass consumer beauty ideals they look different, like the 3 fairies in sleeping beauty. They don't include the highly stylized movies (Hercules) because Megura, Athena, and any of the Muses. They don't include villains because characters like Cruella de Vil (crazy rich lady), Yzma (power hungry royal adviser) Ursula(sea Witch), Mad Madam Mim(witch), Medusa (crazy wannabe rich lady) all look different because they aren't the same type of character.
This is the problem, they aren’t showing the whole story.
Also, don't know why people use Anna and Elsa as an example. People compare them to each other and are upset they look the same. They are SISTERS. It is really hard to draw family members that look related without giving them similar facial features. It's either a copy paste face, or the same color hair. They chose the same face. Having said that The two are suspiciously similar to Rapunzel, but hey, they are young, pretty princesses. They will look the same.
Now a lot of the "sameness" people are responding to has nothing to do with the characters and their actual designs, but with the merchandise branding. The original characters in their own movies each are very different. Most of that is due to the style of the movie, and the designers careful planning to match the personality of the characters. The redesigned princesses we see on bags, shirts, dolls, cups, etc were redesigned to look nice together and promote pretty glittery things to little girls. The princesses have to look like they are from the same world otherwise they look weird next to each other.
Having said that, I do think it's problematic that the merchandise branding is all glam without holding on to any of the character original character.
Lottie is blonde and doe eyed, but she doesn't look like Cinderella. The generic idea of Cinderella, sure. Disney's Cinderella, no.
The Men aren't so Different
If you will really watch movies with unattractive leads then put your money where your mouth is. But if you aren't, then you are a part of the problem.
The Women aren't so Similar
As an animator, the similarities in female characters u see is because they are all princesses and/or pretty. Most of the articles I've read ( Here are two)compare the princesses to random male protagonists who aren't associated with good looks. If you look at Disney females who aren't supposed to fit mass consumer beauty ideals they look different, like the 3 fairies in sleeping beauty. They don't include the highly stylized movies (Hercules) because Megura, Athena, and any of the Muses. They don't include villains because characters like Cruella de Vil (crazy rich lady), Yzma (power hungry royal adviser) Ursula(sea Witch), Mad Madam Mim(witch), Medusa (crazy wannabe rich lady) all look different because they aren't the same type of character.
the Villains yo |
Also, don't know why people use Anna and Elsa as an example. People compare them to each other and are upset they look the same. They are SISTERS. It is really hard to draw family members that look related without giving them similar facial features. It's either a copy paste face, or the same color hair. They chose the same face. Having said that The two are suspiciously similar to Rapunzel, but hey, they are young, pretty princesses. They will look the same.
Now a lot of the "sameness" people are responding to has nothing to do with the characters and their actual designs, but with the merchandise branding. The original characters in their own movies each are very different. Most of that is due to the style of the movie, and the designers careful planning to match the personality of the characters. The redesigned princesses we see on bags, shirts, dolls, cups, etc were redesigned to look nice together and promote pretty glittery things to little girls. The princesses have to look like they are from the same world otherwise they look weird next to each other.
Can you imagine this on a bag? |
Or this? Their styles are not cohesive |
I don't know who y'all lookin' at, but they all look different to me. |
Lottie is blonde and doe eyed, but she doesn't look like Cinderella. The generic idea of Cinderella, sure. Disney's Cinderella, no.
The Men aren't so Different
First of all, people rant on how the men have
so much more diversity. But it is an illusion built on diverse roles. Let's look at the men who are
intended to be
attractive. Prince Eric, Prince Naveen, John Smith, Prince Philip, Flynn Rider,
and Aladdin.
Can you spot the difference? |
I'm seeing a set of twins and their brother |
He has the smile and charm of them all |
All of those men have the same facial structure, same body type,
John Smith, Aladdin and Flynn Rider practically have the same hair. Flynn and
Aladdin literally have the same body type and similar facial expressions.
Both thieves, both very similar to each other |
Why? They
are both thieves. But no body cares about that! The human form of
the Beast (Beauty and the Beast) look like Hercules and Tarzan
combined.
People praised Kristoff for being so different and unconditionally
attractive, but honestly he doesn't look very different from Phoebus Hunchback of Notre Dame). Shave his beard and make him a little younger and they're the same.
Why do those men look the same? Why are all
of the princesses so pretty? Because they were aimed at little girls. When
designing Flynn Rider, the design team asked a bunch of women what
guys they find most attractive so they could reference them
to make a hot guy. There are certain characteristics that are found attractive.
Large eyes are engraved in our minds to appear pretty for all kinds of
scientific reasons, but that's why all of the
girls have large eyes. A small nose will always be cute. If you want to draw a
cute girl she's gonna have a small nose, and big eyes that is just engraved in us. For little girls they make it look pretty.
Why? Because
parents aren't going to take their little girls to see a movie that isn't
pretty!
When Brave came out 2 friends of mine, both women, both in their 20s, both animation majors, complained that Merida wasn't cute enough. They didn't like looking at the huge theater screen with her huge non-cute face.
Now let's have a look at all of those diverse
male characters that aren't aimed at girls. Wreck it Ralph, a video game
character that breaks stuff. Linguini (protagonist in Ratatouille) a skinny little
dork pretty much. Mr. Incredible a retired super hero. Fred
(Big Hero 6) a comic geek. You see those differences there? You see why they can't look the same? It just wouldn't make any sense... But
the princesses are all princesses whom are beautiful inside and out. They all came from fairy tales that highlight beauty, so yes, they will all be beautiful and doe
eyed.
Friday, July 3, 2015
This is a 5 page ebook (including front and back cover) I made in Indesign. Please click the title to see the short book. I had a lot of fun until I encountered problems exporting an interactive pdf file type that could be viewed on the web. Which is a pitty because, through this project, I foud that I like working in InDesign. Maybe my next projects will be normal pdf files.
Enjoy!
Wednesday, June 17, 2015
Displacement!
Trying out some features in Adobe After Effects just for fun!
Just added a little motion to the photo with displacement mapping~
I think I'll play around with this feature in the future....
Just added a little motion to the photo with displacement mapping~
I think I'll play around with this feature in the future....
Friday, June 12, 2015
Sunday, June 7, 2015
Still Around!
Hi, it's been awhile, but I'm going to make an effort to post on here again. Similar to when I first started and upload sketches and some animations.
Here is something I finished a few weeks ago!
Here is something I finished a few weeks ago!
I am working on a ot of projects right now (I need to focus!) but hopefully I can have some updates when they are finished/ok to introduce. Either way, I will have art to show!
Sunday, November 9, 2014
Cold War - Janelle Monae
Hi all!
I have been trying to make a video for this song since July. But I didn't like any of my ideas for it until a few weeks ago~
I used After Effects and Adobe Illustrator to make the video. The music is by Janelle Monae and I have no rights to it.
I hope you enjoy!
feedback is always welcome.
I used After Effects and Adobe Illustrator to make the video. The music is by Janelle Monae and I have no rights to it.
I hope you enjoy!
feedback is always welcome.
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