May theme: Animation and Science Fiction

NEW Deadline: May 7th, 2017

 

Due to animation’s ability to transcend reality and present the fantastic, there is a long held relationship to the sci-fi genre in both film and television. Recent US productions, such as Groening’s Futurama join the well established tradition of sci-fi in Japanese animation with examples including such titles as Akira, Ghost in the Shell, Nausicaa and the Valley of the Wind and the TV series Dragonball Z. In light of this close, but often taken for granted generic association, May’s theme invites posts examining the relationship existing between animation and the science fiction genre from any perspective.

Topics include but are not limited to:

– The evolution of the animated sci-fi

– The peculiarities of the animated sci-fi

– Japanese animation and the sci-fi genre

– The existing differences between the Japanese animated sci-fi and the Western one

– The sci-fi genre and cinematic animation

– The sci-fi genre and televisual animation

– The use of VFX in live-action sci-fi films.

Posts of between 500 and 700 words, which discuss any aspect of the above topic are welcome. Contributors are encouraged to include clips and images to support their posts. Please also include a short bio to accompany the post. All permissions are the responsibility of the contributor. Please contact the editors Nichola Dobson (nichola_dobson@yahoo.co.uk), Cristina Formenti (cristina.formenti@unimi.it) and blog@animationstudies.org with submissions or questions.