Animated Indie Films Are Putting a Bigger Focus on Realism

Oladapo — November 19, 2024

Animated Indie Films Are Putting a Bigger Focus on Realism

Animation within filmmaking is leaning more towards realism with each passing year. This is being shaped by a lot of different factors, including industrial, cultural and technological trends. Realism is likely to play a huge part in the future of independent filmmaking, too, as audiences demand more authenticity on the big screen.

Audiences are Demanding More Authenticity

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Realism in the form of character design and movement is becoming more important as time goes on. Animators are now opting for more relatable character designs that put less focus on exaggerated or overly stylised features. Movements are also much more subtle with extra nuances, helping to replicate real-world physics and body language. Even game developers are adopting this approach as a way to add more life to animated characters.

Titles like The Long Dark focus on surviving in the wilderness, with realistic temperature fluctuations, hunger mechanics and more. As the night draws on, wolves, bears and other serious threats emerge, as they would in the wild. In terms of character design, natural body movements and animal animations replicate what they’d be in real life, helping to add authenticity without taking away from the game’s charm.

Even casino games, like Spin Till You Win Roulette, incorporate realism to provide a more authentic experience. Games like this feature a 3D roulette wheel with a ball that emulates the physics that would be present when playing a real game of roulette. The game is based on European roulette and mimics how a ball would behave as it slowly loses speed until it settles in its final location. This adds authenticity to the gameplay and simulates real-world mechanics in an animated format.

The Artistic Style and Storytelling of Animation

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As realism becomes a bigger focus in animation, especially within the indie film sector, filmmakers are starting to explore different artistic styles. Indie animators are now opting for more hand-drawn animations, with water color textures or even stop-motion, as a way to create a more organic feel. This helps to add a sense of imperfection, a core element of realism. An example would be Kubo and the Two Strings, a stop-motion indie movie set in a fantasy world. Anomalisa is another example, as it uses stop-motion puppets to create an emotionally raw experience.

Characters have become more multi-dimensional by adopting different artistic styles. Audiences then connect with them on at a much deeper level. This is pushing the boundaries of animation without losing the whimsical and visually appealing presence of on-screen characters. For independent studios, this also provides more room for animators to be creative. As they can explore different ways to convey emotion on the big screen.

Technology has a huge part to play here. As it’s now possible to create small changes in characters that are visible on the big screen. This includes the way hair moves and movement differences between smaller and bigger characters. This helps to add to the nuanced movements and changes in body language, compounding the effects.

Many indie animation studios, including Laika created Kubo and the Two Strings. They are also opting for styles that mimic the real world without compromising artistic freedom. Modern animators rely more on realistic details, such as facial expressions, textures, and even lighting. As a way to create a depiction of the real world that we live in. By putting a bigger focus on realism, without sacrificing the concept of animation. It becomes possible to bring a more immersive experience to the big screen, while emphasizing fluid and lifelike movements.

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