Promoting Good Animation

Zippy C
Zippy C
Sep 3, 2018 · 3 min read

I chose this short student film, “Johnny Express”, because I believe it is a good example of what is expected of a good animation. It also happens to be one of my favorite non-mainstream animated pieces. The purpose of this film is meant to be comedic without using actual words.

The designs of the characters, ship, and city are simple and easy to understand and easily distinguishable. The bright colors and cartoonish designs and exaggerated expressions all help add to the comedic effect the overall video strives for and succeeds in achieving.

Lazy Johnny

Movement plays a key role in each scene. Johnny is shown from the start as a lazy individual. There is garbage littering the ship. He is shown sleeping and won’t even bother getting up to answer the ships call. He instead uses a remote control lying on the floor to activate a claw that acts as his hands and legs. This epitomizes his laziness which helps foreshadow the ending in which Johnny is too lazy/scared to say that the delivery failed. At around the 2.20–2.50 mark we are introduced to the individual alien who ordered the package. He is oblivious to what is occurring around him until he notices the other aliens running and screaming for their lives. The audience then is shown that the reason they are screaming is because of the effects of Johnny’s activities which the audience becomes aware of by means of the camera zooming out and the quieting the screams. At 2.45 -2.50 we are shown a news reporter speaking in alien so the audience does not know what he is saying, but he is abruptly cut off and makes a sharp turn and scared sound as Johnny’s footsteps destroy another city.

The News Caster

Possibly the best scene (3.18- 3.52) is when the little alien is running away from the soda can. I believe it exemplifies everything in a good animation. When he is running, the audience can clearly define and distinguish everything he is doing. He sees a bike locked to a post, and he tries the combination. He sees a car at a gas station, etc. Each movement is coupled with him screaming and grunting in response, accompanied by dramatic music. The sharp cuts to and from the scene when Johnny is trying to call him add to the drama and humor of the scene with the loud noises being abruptly cut off. When the alien becomes distracted by the women on TV, you can hear it in his voice.

Fleeing from the can

I believe the story and concept were very creative. I think every point of humor was bold, but not forced. This is difficult to balance, but the creative team behind it did it perfectly.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRtd2-58FK0

BetweenTheFrames

Animated analysis from UMBC's Intro to Animation class

Zippy C

Written by

Zippy C

BetweenTheFrames

Animated analysis from UMBC's Intro to Animation class

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