There’s always that one film or series that hits differently.
Maybe it made you realize how powerful animation can be emotionally.
Maybe it showed you a style or technique you’d never seen before.
Maybe it pushed the boundaries of what you thought animation could be, visually or narratively.
For me, it was Arcane.
The level of artistry in the animation, the depth of the worldbuilding, the character-driven storytelling, the themes, even the way music was used, it all felt like a masterclass in what animation can achieve when every element is working together at a high level.
Animation has this unique ability to tell stories that live action sometimes can’t, and the projects that lean into that are often the ones that stay with us the longest.
I’d love to hear from you, what’s one animated project that shifted your perspective on storytelling?
What did it do differently, and how has it influenced your own creative work?
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Dwayne Williams 2, this is such a great pairing, and I love how you’re looking at both the technical and creative evolution of animation. Love, Death & Robots takes that idea and just explodes it. The...
Expand commentDwayne Williams 2, this is such a great pairing, and I love how you’re looking at both the technical and creative evolution of animation. Love, Death & Robots takes that idea and just explodes it. The fact that every episode reinvents itself, different styles, tones, storytelling approaches, is so cool!! That kind of freedom is what makes the medium so exciting.
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Chase, I’m so glad you shared this, because I’m going to be honest, Kiff is new to me, so I’m definitely adding it to my list to check out. It sounds like what’s really resonating with you is that bal...
Expand commentChase, I’m so glad you shared this, because I’m going to be honest, Kiff is new to me, so I’m definitely adding it to my list to check out. It sounds like what’s really resonating with you is that balance between fun, chaotic adventures and meaningful emotional beats, which is where a lot of the best animated shows live.
Chris Coggins WALL-E is one of my favorites too. My husband and I actually saw it in theaters together on one of our very first dates, so it holds a really special place for me. The music in it is inc...
Expand commentChris Coggins WALL-E is one of my favorites too. My husband and I actually saw it in theaters together on one of our very first dates, so it holds a really special place for me. The music in it is incredible.
I love this question Ashley Renée Smith. By a longshot...The Iron Giant. It has everything I love about a movie - a giant robot from space, a battle scene and a reference to Superman. The thing that i...
Expand commentI love this question Ashley Renée Smith. By a longshot...The Iron Giant. It has everything I love about a movie - a giant robot from space, a battle scene and a reference to Superman. The thing that it also has that changed how I viewed animated movies was heart and soul. A young boy living with his single mom who finds a friend who saves the world. That's when I knew I could write a story with my life elements mixed in and still make it fun but with heart.
Thank you, Ashley Renée Smith, and yeah, I will sing Utena’s praises until the end of time xD the best part is that you can watch the whole series, subbed or dubbed, on YouTube. It looks like the movi...
Expand commentThank you, Ashley Renée Smith, and yeah, I will sing Utena’s praises until the end of time xD the best part is that you can watch the whole series, subbed or dubbed, on YouTube. It looks like the movie isn’t on there anymore but I’m sure you can still find it. I enjoyed Attack on Titan but haven’t watched past season 2 I don’t think. But weird, kinda obscure anime that challenges me is right up my alley.