[COP3]Triangulation of theories or debate in your area of interest

The topic of my dissertation is Exploring the Technique in Creating Anthropomorphic Characters. The reason to do this topic because anthropomorphic characters have charms. The famous cartoon characters like Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Tom and Jerry all of them are anthropomorphised characters. I have never wondered why are they so successful. What is the key elements behind that make them so special? What is the different between an anthropomorphic character and a normal human character? I would also like to focus a bit on anthropomorphic inanimate objects as well because they are easily being neglected but truly have the potential to become a main role of the story. So far, I read a lot of texts in different area of study, puppetry, theater, scientific evidence etc. Also looked into how famous animation studio accomplish characters by analysing the principle and the theories. For the primary research, I will interview professional animator and puppet artist and carry out relevant practical to solve the question. At this point, I know that personality and the skill in drawing are essential in creating a successful anthropomorphic character also it has to be some how build a connection with audience to generate empathy.

This is basically part of my rationale in the dissertation.

Drawing have been existed since Stone age. From the earliest stage, human captured and record their life and the surrounding through painting in the caves. The drawings tell us that human and animals were both living in the same area and which was our nature to interact with animals since a very early stage. Anthropomorphism means the showing or treating of animals, gods and objects as if they are human in appearance, character, or behaviour (Cambridge Dictionary) The concept of Anthropomorphism has been existing for centuries. Xenophanes, the ancient Greek philosopher attributed this abstract thoughts of animals to how do human came up with the concept of god which is believed to be the closest saying of Anthropomorphism back in ancient time.

''Ethiopians say their gods are flat-nosed and dark,

Thracians that theirs are blue-eyed and red-haired

If oxen and horses and lions had hands

If oxen and horses and lions had hands

and were able to draw with their hands and do the same things as men,

horses would draw the shapes of gods to look like horses

and oxen to look like oxen, and each would make the

gods’ bodies have the same shape as they themselves had.''

There have been a lot of argument between scientists of the tendency of anthropomorphism. From the theory in Aristotle’s The History of Animals (Aristotle, trans 2015) who considered animals have souls which are able to perceive and desire due to the fact that they feel pleasure and pain to Darwin’s The expression of emotions in animals and man(Charles. D, 1872) attested dogs as loyalty, courage and obedience, which address that many human have been trying to authenticate emotions and personalities of animals and claim about interactive communication. Nowadays, from pet to wild, from plants to animals, human being convinced that they have emotions and personalities and which allow us to share our daily life with them. It comes very natural that human associate animals with themselves.'We are animals; we think with animals. What could be more natural?'(Daston and Mitman, 2005) It is inevitable that Human beings apply anthropomorphism in daily life because we genetically like to be connected emotionally with others and empathy is fundamental to human existence. When talking about anthropomorphism, it is not just animals but inanimate objects as well for instance children talk to toys as if they are playing with a friend or aged shoes that you refused to throw away. Ed Hook has a chapter in his book Acting for Animators analysing Personality in Animation. He and many other famous animators all agree that personality is essential for a successful character and had raised a question: ‘Personality may be a key to something, but what is personality? Is it personality if you create a character with a paunch on his belly and one squinty eye?’. It is essential to understand how to address the right personality to specific character and why does personality take a massive part in animal and object character design.