The shape of the crocodiles is much more tense and square than the hippo. When all of the crocodiles surround the hippo they stand in a square, with their shoulders up. The crocodiles are much more sharp and quick. They are also of a flat shape and everything is in 2D. The hippos are more of a round and smooth shapes, also the bubbles that they float on are round with soft edges. A circle shape is used for hippos to show that they are good and gentler.
There are many example of when shadows are used in this animation. The first time we really notice a shadow is when the crocodiles are creeping along the wall. The shadows of the crocodiles are much bigger than the crocodiles them selves. This would make them seem more frightening and evil. Also it would make them seem more intimidating as they were up high looking down with a huge shadow casting behind them. The spotlight that is on the hippo is circular to show the gentleness and the goodness, but then this disappears when the crocodiles form a square around her. But when the good crocodile comes along he also is in a circular spotlight to show us that he is good not evil. The shadows are again formed when they dance together and the shadows move along with the characters.
The hippo is much more graceful and shy that the crocodiles. This is an example of oxymoron. This is because you would not usually associate a fat hippo to be all graceful and light on her feet doing ballet. These examples of what the hippo does do not fit together, for example pulling the tutu over her bum so that the crocodile does not see, this also makes her look innocent. The way that the hippo moves is elegant and slowly. The crocodile move more flat and he is standing upright at some times but then moves sly and low at other times. I think that he moves upright and tall to make himself look imperia, but then he goes low and slinky so that he does not frighten the hippo when he goes up to her and also so that she does not feel threatened by him. When the hippo wakes up they start to flirt with each other. The crocodile does this by putting his hand to his heart when he first sees her and then both the hippo and the crocodile flutter their eyelashes at each other.
The music that is played in this film animation has a great impact and is probably one of the most important things. At the beginning the music is dainty and soft, this was played whist the hippos were floating on the bubbles. There is a completely different style to the music which is played when the crocodiles are on scene, it is more loud and has a beat to it. The crocodiles move in time to the music, for example when each of the crocodiles throw their cloaks up or their arms up into the air there is a loud beat and a crescendo. I think that the different types of music symbolises the good and evil in the hippo and the crocodiles.
There are quite a few shots that last for quite a bit of time and then there are others that are very short. They edit most of the shots out with a simple cut from one shot to another. This creates the effect that it’s moving on to a completely different thing, these editing format would usually be used when going from a shot of the hippo to a shot of the crocodiles. In this animation there were also some shots that were edited by fading out from one shot to another.
There are many different camera angles that are used throughout the scene. At the beginning there is a long shot of the hippo as she lands to show us the scene. We see a low angle shot of the crocodiles this makes them look bigger and more important than what they actually are. Also we then see a high angle shot of the hippo, this makes her look vulnerable, alone and unprotected. There is also a panning and tilt shot from the hippo to crocodiles, this shows us that the crocodiles are looking down on the crocodile. There is quite a close up shot of the crocodiles when they are at the top of the tower, this lets us know what they actually look like, and how evil they look. There is a good close up if the good crocodile when he is flirting and fluttering his eyelashes. There is a big close up of the hippo when she wakes up to show her emotion, surprise and shock of seeing the crocodile. They want us to see how she feels and feel that same emotion as she does. When they are dancing they use long and very long shots to establish them dancing together and with each other. When the hippo jumps on the crocodile and then flattening him there is a good close up to show us this. This shows us both the expressions on the hippo and crocodile.
There are some sound effects that are used during this animation. An example of this is when the bubble bursts when the hippo lands on the floor. This is a good use of SFX.
In conclusion I think that all of the techniques that I mentioned are important. If I was to create my own short animation I think that I would consider the types of camera shots as the most important as they create the tension and how the certain character that the shot is of gets across to you. The type of shots that you would use depends on how you would like the character to be viewed. I did not realise that there was so much in this short sequence that I could analyse. The amount of different shots that are used is very high. The way that there is a contrast in the music for the crocodiles and hippo is also very effective and if this was not used I don’t think that the animation would have had the effect that it does now.
