We mainly know the great film-makers from their long-length features and we ignore other shorter creations of them. This is one good example. Tezuka parodies here human memory, while giving a quick lesson of cognitive psychology, one might dare say. His style in this short film mingles real people faces with 2D animation, perhaps with the intention of adding a caricature feeling to it. It makes me wonder, if Yuasa Masaaki is influenced directly from Tezuka.
Let's take a look at the qualities of memory Tezuka mentions in the short:
- Memory is based on oblivion. If we couldn't forget ,then we couldn't remember either. The useless details are erased.
- Memories are organized inside the brain. We remember what leaves strong impressions.
- Memory is selective and distorting and idolizing.
- Memories are influenced by emotions and influence emotions. Bad memories either get pushed away or get magnified.
- Time soothes and minimizes the effect of memories and memories wear off.
Yes, Tezuka is great!
ReplyDeleteWinter Days is a good collection of shorts by animators from around the world.