FACTFILE: GCE A2 LEVEL MOVING IMAGE ARTS ADVANCED PORTFOLIO – PRACTITIONER STUDY ANIMATOR:

Nick Park

Overview • Use of cinematic lighting which parodies and references other genres, such as in Wallace & Nick Park, a stop-motion Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit, which animator and director, has makes frequent use of the sort of low key lighting won multiple Oscars and one might find in a real horror movie BAFTAs for his energetic and humourous films. Usually • Use of shallow focus and focus pulls such as in focusing on his signature where the focus shifts from characters, to Feathers as the dog stalks the villainous Gromit, Park’s work is widely penguin acclaimed for its comic inventiveness and the detailed craft of his . • Use of detailed production design to present Though working only in animation , stylised characters within a very recognisable world, Park’s work is also deeply filmic, drawing upon many which, in the case of Park’s work, features streets, classical Hollywood films and genres. His use of roads, clothing and set-designs that are closely and genre parody in works like The Curse of the Were- lovingly patterned after the North of Rabbit (2005) is reinforced by his use of lighting and camera techniques, such as pull focusing and crane shots, which are normally associated with live action Some recommended texts:* cinema. His frequent use of film language elements The Wrong Trousers (1993) such as camera movement and lighting, adds a sense of cinematic depth to his work. Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit (2005)

Some techniques for study and A Matter of Loaf and Death (2008) exploration: *Please note that the filmography of some practitioners • Use of expressive character design, as can be featuring in the A2 MIA fact file series may include 18 certificate seen in Park’s signature characters, Wallace and films. These films, if significant, may be mentioned in the Gromit, who are cleverly designed to reflect their overview to provide career background but will not be listed as recommended for study by CCEA. It is the responsibility of respective character traits the teacher to ensure that students only view films with age appropriate content and certification. • Use of camera movement, not often used in stop Many films have had their certification reviewed in recent motion animation, making the camera an active years. For more details go to www.bbfc.co.uk and use the film participant in the comic mayhem, such as the certification search function. various fast moving tracking shots which follow the action during the train chase in The Wrong Credits Trousers (1993) All images by C.Ryder

© CCEA 2016 1