This document is downloaded from DR‑NTU (https://dr.ntu.edu.sg) Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. Animating Singapore : the complex expression of Singapore's contemporary daily life and culture through animation Goh, Wei Choon 2017 Goh, W. C. (2017). Animating Singapore : the complex expression of Singapore's contemporary daily life and culture through animation. Master's thesis, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. http://hdl.handle.net/10356/72490 https://doi.org/10.32657/10356/72490 Downloaded on 10 Oct 2021 04:01:50 SGT ATTENTION: The Singapore Copyright Act applies to the use of this document. Nanyang Technological University Library Animating Singapore: The complex expression of Singapore's contemporary daily life and culture through animation. GOH WEI CHOON SCHOOL OF ART, DESIGN & MEDIA A thesis submitted to the Nanyang Technological University in partial fulfilment of the requirement for the degree of Master of Arts 2017 (Year of Submission of Hard Bound Thesis) 1 ATTENTION: The Singapore Copyright Act applies to the use of this document. Nanyang Technological University Library Acknowledgements Firstly, I would like to thank my supervisor, Hans-Martin Rail for his tireless support and encouragement. He has been a steadfast anchor for my post-graduate endeavors, and I would not have made it this far without his guidance as a mentor on academia, animation and life. Professor Ishu Patel was an important spiritual guide for my soul. He provided me with the ethical and artistic basis that I keep close to my heart at all times to remind myself of my power, role and responsibilities as an animator and artist. I would also like to thank Hong Bee Kuen, manager of graduate programmes, whose efficiency and initiative kept us up to speed on important events and deadlines. Professor Michael Walsh, chair of the graduate programme, has also been very helpful as well in terms of his willingness to listen to feedback. My fellow course mates were also important to my research. Mark Wee was exceptionally helpful, inspiring and fun to be with, providing an incredibly emphatic source of cathartic release when I was frustrated with being an academic. Zu, Henny and Santiago have also been wonderful colleagues and peers. I would like to thank my best friend Jiahui Wee. Her companionship and empathy gave me much comfort and sustenance during the lows of my graduate life. Finally I want to thank my family. They gave me the gift of freedom to pursue my dreams. It is because of their trust that I might one day fly. 2 ATTENTION: The Singapore Copyright Act applies to the use of this document. Nanyang Technological University Library Table of Contents Acknowledgements .................................................................................................. 2 Table of Contents ..................................................................................................... 3 Abstract: ................................................................................................................... 5 Chapter 1: Introduction ........................................................................................... 6 "Complexity"and similar notions - definition within this research ............................... 7 An artistic perspective ................................................................................................................... 10 Research aims and questions ...................................................................................................... 10 Chapter 2: Literature Review: ................................................................................ 11 Importance of artistic perspectives in national discourse .............................................. 11 Animation and aspects of Singapore's cultural life ............................................................ 15 Other countries' expressions of culture through animation ........................................... 20 Chapter 3: Research strategy ................................................................................. 23 Chapter 4: Animated films about Singapore ......................................................... 26 Lak Boh Ki ........................................................................................................................................... 26 Nation Building: The Story of a 50-Year Country ................................................................ 31 The Violin ............................................................................................................................................ 35 Heartland Hubby .............................................................................................................................. 39 Flats ....................................................................................................................................................... 44 The Cage .............................................................................................................................................. 47 The Tiger of 142B ............................................................................................................................ 51 Conclusion of Chapter 4 ................................................................................................................ 55 Chapter 5: Foreign film analysis ............................................................................ 56 Tale of Tales ....................................................................................................................................... 56 Triplets of Belleville ........................................................................................................................ 59 200 ......................................................................................................................................................... 62 The History of English in Ten Minutes .................................................................................... 67 Conclusion of Chapter 5 ................................................................................................................ 70 Chapter 6: Practical Work ..................................................................................... 72 Singapore's kaleidoscopic, multi-racial, multi-ethnic population ................................ 72 The premise of the film .................................................................................................................. 73 3 .,. 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Nanyang Technological University Library Embracing subjectivity ................................................................................................................. 74 Characterization through cartooning and/or caricature ................................................ 76 Setting: close-ups or establishing shots? ............................................................................... 87 Sound design ..................................................................................................................................... 88 Narrative design .............................................................................................................................. 89 Conclusion to Chapter 6 ............................................................................................................... 92 Chapter 7: Conclusion ............................................................................................ 94 Bibliography ........................................................................................................... 97 4 ATTENTION: The Singapore Copyright Act applies to the use of this document. Nanyang Technological University Library Abstract: This paper aims to investigate the complex expression of contemporary Singapore daily life and culture through the animated art form. This will be done a double­ pronged research approach, utilizing a mix of theoretical and practical components. The theoretical research will investigate the complex expression of daily life and culture (Singapore and foreign alike) through case studies and literature about existing animated works, while the practical part attempts to create a film abiding by the observations gleamed from the theoretical portion, and vice versa. This practical component will focus on expressing the deeper, more complex aspects of Singapore daily life through the creation of an animated film, which will seek to express mainly the kaleidoscopic sociocultural landscape of Singapore through the depiction of people on the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) railway. The paper makes the case that there is a shortage of complex, original and compelling animated expressions of the various aspects that make up Singapore's daily cultural life, and that such expressions can be deliberately achieved through conscious control of the components of the animated medium. 5 ATTENTION: The Singapore Copyright Act applies to the use of this document. Nanyang Technological University Library Chapter 1: Introduction Singapore is home to a culturally diverse and dynamic population (Noor and Leong 2013; Lim, Hashim and Buttney 2014; Reyes 2013). The cultural milieu of Singapore is further complicated by its relative youth (Mutalib 1992,69), as well as its union of Eastern and Western perspectives, boasting a primarily Asian population with a significant colonial past. All these elements mix together