Chronic Halo - Lyrical Anime: Leaving A Lasting Impression

Lyrical Anime: Leaving A Lasting Impression
by Chronic Halo
Anime Basic Scriptwriting Workshop Summer 2007
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/chronic_halo2000

My Cat Ate My Sister
written by bambam medina
(5 to 10 minutes Lyrical Anime Script)
5 Beats Template

1. (Wide Angle) A fish bowl is located at the center of a table near the window. Under the table is a sleeping chubby cat. (Medium Angle) Inside the fish bowl is a small castle and besides it is a tiny playground.

2. Inside the fish bowl, a little girl comes out of the castle in order to play. But as she is about to use the swing, she hears other children's voices.

3. She turns to look outside through the window and she sees children playing outside.

4. She wants to join the children outside and so she climbs out of the fish bowl.

5. But suddenly the chubby cat suddenly appears and eats the little girl. (Close up) The cat gives a haunting smile. (Wide Angle) The cat jumps down from the table and return to its place in order to sleep again, the end.

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Strong images, disjointed events, experimental visual execution and stylized animation characterize lyrical Anime. Often, lyrical anime revolves around the need to translate abstract emotions, thoughts and experiences into physical events, situations, actions, activities, characters, and moment in time and phenomena that occupies space. Such translations are done outside the domain of the conflict arc.

There are two modes under this category namely; a) character based lyrical anime or b) story based lyrical anime. Character based lyrical anime focuses on the emotional and physical attributes of a character in terms of its relationships with other characters. Thus, hate may be a subject of a lyrical anime and its theme will be based on the character's attitude towards it.

Story based lyrical anime focuses on human actions, activities and experiences. It is an emotional and physical deconstruction or construction of past, present and future events. This may range from birth, childhood, adulthood and death. Thus, puberty may be a subject of a lyrical anime and its theme will be based on the creator's attitude towards it.

The difference between the two modes is obvious. The first one is character driven and the second one is story driven. When a creator wants to share his personal take on any subject, most likely he or she will opt for a story driven piece. But what happens when a creator wants to talk about a love one as a character?

Whether a character is a private or a public figure, the point of view always belongs to the character as a subject. We, as animation writers and animators, bring to life characters that are familiar to us. But after that, the character detaches itself from the creator and begins to stand on its own.

What sets apart Lyrical Anime from other categories is the absence of character conflict or story conflict. In a character driven piece, the character usually does not have a need and a want. There are cases that a character only has a need or only has a want. In both cases, internal conflict that affects motivation and intention is often silent.

Lyrical Anime does not concern itself in showcasing a complete character or story. It is more geared towards translating an abstract value into a concrete form that is familiar yet striking to the senses. In the process, it often leaves lasting impressions to its audience.

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Anime Basic Scriptwriting Workshop
Understanding Anime As An Animation Style
Summer Workshop 2007
NARRATIVE SHORT & FEATURE ANIME APPLICATION LECTURE SERIES

n Anime
A. Features
B. Components
C. Structure
n Formulating An Idea
A. Sources
B. Types
C. Components
n Story Concept
A. Dramatic Potential
B. Comedic Potential
n Premise Development
A. Subject
B. Action
C. Short Premise vs Long Premise
n The Character Matrix
A. Building A Character
B. Creating A Character
n Story
A. Components
B. Elements
C. Structure
n Breaking Down a Story into Beats (story beats)
A. Characteristics
B. Protocol in Beat Development
C. Logic in Beat Development
D. Putting The Beats In Order
E. Evaluating Beats
F. Breaking Down A Scene (Beats)
G. Story Dynamics
n Outline
n The Script
A. Method in Writing Animation Scripts
B. Write the Script
C. Edit the Script
n Components of The Script
A. Writing Description
B. Writing Dialog
n Writing In Terms of Types of Distribution
n Presentation of the Bible
n Project Development
n How To Pitch
n Steps in Promoting Your Product