Animation Fundamentals- Kingdom Hearts Opening: Simple and Clean
This opening scene for the video game Kingdom Hearts functions as both an explanation for how the video games starts and also as a music video for Utada Hikaru’s song Simple and Clean. Since this songs release, this video game and singer has become synonymous with each other, it is almost impossible to think of one without the other. They are so interwoven that when Kingdom Hearts was released in America Utada Hikaru sang an English version for the North American fans.
There are many fundamentals of animation in this clip but the first one that stands out is the staging. Throughout the game you visit different places but one of the main places you stay and keep coming back to is this mysterious beach that you wake up on. The beach will change from morning,noon or night to set the mood of the quest that needs to be done. During the day it is much more relaxed and easy going but during the night it is harder to see and you must fight the monsters.
The next fundamental that is very visible is follow through. This is most common in the characters hair and clothes. They are both very free flowing and sometimes move even when there is no wind or motion to effect them. It gives each character a magical presents to them.
The last fundamental is arcs. This element is virtually everywhere in the game since it is a fighting game. The characters use swords called key blades and with a mighty swing, they create a powerful arc that comes behind the blade.
This game has many Disney characters in it so it is nice to see how the whimsical world of Disney animation and the way they use the animation fundamentals compares and interacts with a very Japaneses game and how they use the animation fundamentals. Surprisingly it comes out amazing and creates a game that millions love.
