Typically viewed as one of the traditional animation types, cel animation has grown to be associated immediately with the specified genre. Although new methods have nearly ousted cel animation, its legacy remains unparalleled since it allows for a tremendous variety of stylistic options. “The Cat Came Back,” a short animated film, is a prime example of how cel animation can work to establish the characters and the tone immediately, creating an instantly immersive experience for the audience.
“The Cat Came Back” features a rather unique combination of formal elements. The time slot of several days is condensed to several minutes, with the pacing accelerating with each plot twist, namely, each return of the cat. In turn, the setting varies quite vastly from the owner’s home to the forest to the mountain (Barker, 1988). Cel animation allows making these switches without changing the tone due to the use of very basic outlines and shapes to signify the change while keeping the atmosphere of the environment quite similar.
Moreover, the use of cel animation allows the creation rather basic outlines to show the characters in full length. Given the comedic tone of the cartoon, the specified feature is crucial since it offers a plethora of opportunities for slapsticks and a similar type of humor, which is featured heavily in “The Cat Came Back” (Barker, 1988). Therefore, cel animation helps to create the nonchalant style that keeps the timing and the plot very tight, creating wonderful opportunities for comedy.
Finally, the lighting and the angles in the movie serve the express purpose of amplifying the comedic effect, namely, the distress that the leading character experiences. Owing to the use of the cel animation, the painted backgrounds remain static, helping the viewers to focus on the motion of the characters and the comedic situations that the movie features. Overall, the cel animation technique is perfect for the type of comedy that “The Cat Came Back” represents. Allowing the characters to move in the way that meets comedic timing, and giving them the exaggerated expressions that amplify the absurdity of the situation, cel animation helps to produce the desired effect.
Reference
Condie, R. (Producer), & Barker, C. (Director) (1988). The cat came back. Toronto, Canada: Buena Vista Pictures.