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CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES

SHREK

Shrek is a quite popular animated movie created by the DreamWorks in 2001. Almost everyone knows this movie and all people I met know this movie.

This green onion-like ogre's peripeteia has been created as 3D CGI animation technology similar to one used for the Toy Story. Its target audience is clear; simply everyone. From elderly and adults to teenagers and children. Numerous jokes and different types of humour will simply make everyone laugh.

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Thanks to this animation, DreamWorks studio got its fame and funds for more movies, like sequels for Shrek.

Movie is full of parodies of different fairy tales, like Three Little Pigs, Snow White but also different animated movies like Peter Pan, Dumbo.

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THE SIMPSONS

This animated TV show is recognised by almost everyone and probably by everyone with access to the television. This show is so popular it has 28 seasons!

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People might not be aware of that but it is quite hard, expensive and time consuming to create each episode. Firstly, a Draft is created (idea for the episode), it is reviewed and then script is written. Then it is readen by everyone. After that all lines are recorded. At the same time story board is created and edited before animators do their job. There one people create main frames, while other are creating in-betweens. Before publishing an episode studio has to watch it and edit again, if necessary.

This animation is successful because of the smart decisions that authors have made. First of all, they have designed their characters in a specific, remarkable way in order to catch everyone's attention, even if you are just jumping from one channel to another. They have also created a cast of more than 100 characters, giving them a lot of freedom while creating each gag. The Simpsons are also making fun of everything, what makes it both hilarious and easy to understand by everyone. Except children.

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Thanks to this show many people got a job (what is very important) and the industry has changed their view a bit. The Simpsons have proved that being original is a key to success.

THE ROAD TO EL DORADO

Another movie created by DreamWorks. Unlike Shrek, which was a CGI animation, The Road To El Dorado is a traditionally animated movie. It means that animators had to draw all frames by hand. Thanks to it, Studio was able to create a very funny style similar to one used by Disney.

Movement in The Road To El Dorado is very smooth and exaggerated. Often you notice that background is very static and only characters move. However, unlike other Studios DreamWorks animate their characters even when they stay still. It gives a very realistic effect as people do move a bit when standing.

The Road To El Dorado uses very characteristic characters who easily show their emotions in an exaggerated way. Thanks to this, the audience easily gets into the mood and follows characters; laugh with them, cry with them and rage with them.

Main characters are easy to like and love (even after a long time of its production).

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They make silly gestures and poses to express their emotion or empathise on the mood or simply do something fun according to the situation.

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DreamWorks shows that usual heroes are not the best choice, instead anti-heroes (like Shrek) are better as they can have clearer and deeper personalities.

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