Papersky

Animation of the week: Papersky

Papersky, I would like to start off as saying, is derived from a very unique and interesting way of creating an animation video. Even from the start, one can tell it is not created through conventional means... basically it looks as though old cardboard was recycled in the sense of being used for an animation. And indeed, it is old cardboard that is being used.

Touching briefly on the creation of the video and the characters, I (at first glance) wasn't able to see much variation and creativity. They seemed so simple, way too simple, however, when I played the video a few more times and focused more I was able to notice very subtle details. The characters are made up of cardboard; their movement is portrayed through different cardboard cuttings being placed in different areas or positions within the larger cardboard box. There was some usage of shadows, which contributed to the overall feeling of the video. So even though there is VERY limited movement and effects, the illusion of these movements is effective enough at telling a story.

What a great way of using such "simple" materials for delivering a story!

Moving on, I suppose I can say that I didn't know what to think about the story when I first laid eyes on this video... but it is for sure that Papersky did manage to hold my attention. I found myself deep in thought trying to understand what the storyline was, but it took many more playbacks of the video over and over for me to grasp a basic idea.

It seems as though the box (being the world) and the sky that appears is perhaps a metaphor for the phrase "seeing outside of the box." The figure is seen doing everyday mundane work, the same routine day after day, he is blind to what lies beyond the box. However, one day the routine changes, there could be a few different reasons as to how or why he saw the "real" sky. One, he could have been hallucinating somehow... perhaps a negative effect of overwork. Two, he could have simply been daydreaming, possibly an internal wish for change, it is hard to say and this list could go on and on.

One thing that is certain in this video is that somehow and in someway this individual cardboard character sees a "real" sky as opposed to his cardboard sky (papersky). Could then the sky be a symbol? If so then what? Well, I believe it is a symbol, as for what; there could be a variety of answers.

To start; the sky suddenly breaks out of the box, starting out as a small hole and growing larger until it is free. So from this one possibility is the sky stands for freedom. In the case of our paper character, the sky is a symbol for his want of personal freedom. His freedom may be for something new, a break from the similar, an opening to a new and exciting world.

Another possible symbol for the sky could be temptation. The sky presents something new, which seems to upset the characters partner. Could then the sky be something that is pulling the paper character in a direction, which could ultimately ruin his life? I believe this is very possible. Of course I am not the one who created, so I can only speculate. But, after serious consideration and though of Papersky, I fell temptation or a negative pull could be a valid alternative.

If I were to choose between Temptation and Freedom as the most likely represented by the sky, I would select Freedom. I think it is just a nice concept to think of the paper character as escaping what to me seems like a sad, boring, and hard life.

The music furthers supports my idea of this character wanting to break free. It is hard to accurately describe the music, but even though it seems to have an up beat; it somehow gave me a sense of need. The music really drew me into what was going on in the paper world, I felt compelled by what was going on. The animation alone (although very interesting) would not have been enough to relay the message of a need for freedom. The music helped with showing anticipation, grief, bland feeling, excitement, etc. In a way, I would go as far as to say that the music was a large part of portraying emotion.

There was no dialogue in the video, just music and the cardboard animations. Emotions can be presented in many different ways, but through Papersky emotions were shows through simple facial expressions and the use of music. However simple it may seem, the emotions of the character were very recognizable. The creator of this video did a very good job at providing an alternative to the standard (referring to drawn animations and dialogue seen consistently through out flash).

This alternative to the standard does work, even if it is only simple figure drawings on old cardboard. This is something I have never seen before, which leads me to believe the reason why this video is so successful is simply because no one has really ever experienced it. It is creative in the sense of being different... so then maybe the creator is thinking "outside of the box," and is experiencing their own form of freedom by creating a simple, yet never before seen video!