DreamWorks Animation

Gloria TangLawrence Tse

Brian FanIsabella Wong

Kung Fu Panda

• Produced by DreamWorks Animation– Shrek 1, 2 & 3– Madagascar– Flushed Away

• DreamWorks Animation:– Owned by Viacom– Who also owns Nickelodeon, VH1, MTV, etc.

Representative

• Caused a lot of trouble in China• Supposedly, Kung Fu Panda had ruined the

image of the panda, China’s national animal• Po portrayed as fat and eager to learn Kung Fu• China attempted to boycott the movie• But the attempt failed as many areas of China

found the move quite entertaining

Genre

• Comedy is present through the use of slapstick• When Furious Five attacks Tai Lung, the genre

changes to action• Portrayed extremely well due to the fact that

the film is completely animated• The animation allows the characters to do

many sorts of actions that would normally be either impossible, or will require a lot of equipment and stunt people

Audience• Children and teenagers, probably within the age range of 8-

16• Using Jack Black as Po, and Angelina Jolie as Tigress may

attract many teenagers, as they are stars that would appeal to them

• Another pair of famous stars that are voicing for the characters in the film include two Asian stars, Jackie Chan as Monkey and Lucy Liu as the voice of Viper, the snake

• These stars might also attract not only the western audience but the Asian audience too, because of the multi-racial stars used in the film

• The characters itself would attract the younger audience-children because of their cute features

Narrative• Todorov’s Theory:– Whereby the equilibrium is at the beginning of the

film, when everything is normal– Followed by the dis-equilibrium– By the end of the film, the problem was resolved and

a new equilibrium is formed• Barthes’ Enigma Code:– When Po finally got hold of the ‘golden scroll’ which is

meant to be mysterious and kept for only the dragon warrior to open, it was blank and showed a reflection of him instead

– This creates suspense to the audience

Conventions of DreamWorks

• Usually doesn’t follow typical stereotypes– In Kung Fu Panda, Po, though as an animal that

symbolises China, is not skilled at Kung Fu– More well-known is Fiona of Shrek, wherein she is

not portrayed as the typical princess waiting for a prince to come save her

• Often uses the personification of animals– Kung Fu Panda uses various animals– Flushed Away uses rats

Film Animation to Society

• Most film animations are targeted at young children, aged from 4-11– Stereotypes– Representation– Morals

• At times, film animations can be used to represent society and more ‘serious’ issues– Take Cars for example, where it studies how we’ve

left ‘slowness’ behind for technology

Other Organisations• Toy Manufacturing companies– The producers synergise with the businesses, so they

would benefit from the sale of the toys while the film is being advertised through that

• Businesses like McDonalds– Again, the use of synergy. There are also kids that enjoy

collecting their happy meal toys• Toy manufacturers earn a lot from these, because

many children want them• To some extent, the food industry, especially fast food

chains, benefit from this as they sell things that come with the free toy

END.

PS.HAPPY BIRTHDAY

GLORIA. :D